Fortical is a medication commonly prescribed to treat osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. This eMedTV Web page explains how the drug works, offers information on when and how to take it, and lists possible side effects that may occur.
Potential Fortical side effects include runny or stuffy nose, fatigue, and nausea. This segment of the eMedTV library lists both common side effects of the drug (such as back pain) and rare but potentially serious side effects (such as depression).
Insomnia is a rare but possible side effect that may occur during treatment with Fortical. This eMedTV resource offers more information on Fortical and insomnia, including helpful tips for improving sleep habits.
Hair loss is a rare side effect of Fortical, occurring in less than 1 percent of people. This eMedTV segment discusses Fortical and hair loss in more detail and explains what your doctor may recommend if this side effects occurs during treatment.
Dry mouth is a possible side effect of Fortical. This eMedTV page offers more information on Fortical and dry mouth, including an explanation of how common the side effect appears to be. This article also includes a list of tips for obtaining relief.
Fortical uses are primarily focused on the treatment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. As this eMedTV resource explains, however, Fortical is also occasionally used off-label for treating nerve pain and bone pain, and preventing osteoporosis.
For osteoporosis treatment, the suggested Fortical dosage for postmenopausal women is one spray once daily. This eMedTV page offers Fortical dosing precautions and tips, and explains the importance of incorporating calcium and vitamin D in your diet.
Bisphosphonates may potentially interact with Fortical. This article from the eMedTV Web site lists specific bisphosphonate products that can cause Fortical drug interactions and explains what may happen when these medications are taken together.
Fortical can potentially cause nasal problems. This eMedTV Web page lists other side effects that may occur with Fortical. Warnings and precautions on who should not take the medicine are also included in this article.
Taking a Fortical overdose will typically cause low blood calcium. This section of the eMedTV Web site describes the symptoms of low blood calcium and explains the treatment options that are available for a Fortical overdose.
At this time, it is not known for sure whether it is safe for pregnant women to take Fortical. This eMedTV article offers more information on Fortical and pregnancy, and explains what happened when the drug was given to pregnant animals.
Women are generally advised to not breastfeed while taking Fortical. This page of the eMedTV archives discusses the link between Fortical and breastfeeding in more detail and explains whether it is likely for the drug to pass through breast milk.
There are no generic Fortical products available on the market at this time. This page from the eMedTV library explains when a generic version may become available and describes the differences between Fortical and Miacalcin nasal spray.
